Larry L. Stutler
Executive Director
Lincoln Economic Development Authority
Jessica Chambers
Larry Stutler is a dreamer—the type of person who sees end-
less possibilities and strives to bring ideas to fruition for the benefit of others. As the executive director of the Lincoln Economic
Development Authority, this drive to keep improving makes him
an excellent director and an ideal advocate for his community.
Growing up in Ona, WV, he had an early start as an entrepreneur, gathering and selling fishing bait and mowing lawns.
“I really enjoyed my little business ventures,” he recalls. “I
learned to sell my services, fill the orders and keep a schedule.”
110
west virginia executive
This childhood fascination with entrepreneurship led to a
corporate career managing a retail gasoline facility, supervising an entire retail division and becoming vice president of a
$25 million oil marketing company.
Although a successful employee in the petroleum marketing
business, Stutler was unhappy with the era of consolidation
and buy-outs, so he took a gamble on a job in the nonprofit
management and community and organizational services sector.
It was there he recognized how his strict financial background